Have you heard? Plants are cool, plants are in. And, it’s not just about getting likes on Instagram, but health, wellness, and getting back to nature too. There’s been much chatter these days about Millennials and their sudden expression of love for plants – as if it’s one of the great mysteries of the universe. But it shouldn’t be that much of an enigma as to why.
Filling an interior space with plants can help fill the void in our modern lives and serves a multitude of purpose: green is not only a lovely color, way beyond the money you earn, and plants are more that a mere decorative aspect. Plants are one of the most spell-bindingly subtle of living organisms out there – they actually interact with your body, mind, and have the ability to improve overall quality of life.
Millennials might be projecting a mental state of nostalgia for a lost world; a planet in despair. Demanding work schedules, the fact that so many people grow up in urban environments and have lost connection with the natural world. Whatever the reason, we have entered an age of mindfulness and meditation. Creating spaces of gratitude and inspiration is now commonplace.
Plants make us better people and are associated with self-care: they teach us a basic level of responsibility, they are like companions, and, I dare say, plants exhibit patience and have their own extremely gentle way of listening. Most houseplants are inexpensive – especially, when raising from seedlings. And that’s not even to touch upon the myriad of health benefits they provide, both, physically and psychologically. Above all, plants are beautiful and give us a degree of joy: they nourish our souls and ask for nothing in return – other than a little water and some basic care.
Instagram feeds are exploding with gorgeous plant spaces and plant trends. “Plantfluencer” stars with millions of followers are on the rise, getting gigs and signing book deals. Some that are currently trending hot on instagram are thejungalow, grouppartner, houseplantclub, or boyswithplants.
We’ve put together a short list of how to easily incorporate plants into your space. Even if you’re a novice and consider yourself the furthest thing from having a green thumb, just remember it’s an opportunity to learn something about plants and yourself. The nice thing about plants is that raising them is an ultra low-risk endeavor. Plants are resilient and forgiving; even if they wilt from neglect, or turn a brown leaf, drop a shoot, they give you another chance to get it right.
Layer your plants
Layer the plants like you would anything else, think clothing or hair. You should strive to blend your collection with the space in a harmonious fashion. The idea is to avoid a cluttered feel. Take sufficient time to sit back and think about the kind of overall composition that you would like for a space. Approach the project like an artist whose getting ready to paint an empty canvas – it’s not about throwing paint in a chaotic and disarrayed way. In the end, you want a tailored feel. Consider putting many different types of plants of the same species to unify the look and simplify the care process.
Form or function
You’ve invited your green little friends into your home, so now let them have their own room and space to grow. Whether you desire the space to become overgrown or prefer a less plant-dense area, is really all up to you. It all depends on what your goals are and what you’re looking to achieve. Do you need to gain access to that area for some reason?
Understand the light you have
Plants have a few needs. Mainly, the amount of light and water, and temperature they require. Though plants are definitely empowering and make you feel in control and like the decider of all things, try to exhibit understanding, sympathy and willingness to support your chlorophyll-producing roommates in their quest for survival. It’s best not to stick your plant in a dark corner if it needs lots of bright light, or alternatively, on a sunny window-sill if they prefer low-light. Get informed of the kind of light that is available in your home – is there a north, south facing, west or east facing window?
Place plants higher for a jungle-like look
There are so many kinds of hanging plants which can help you to achieve a jungle-like effect in your abode. Vining plants such as the pothos are one such species that are easy to go wild with. You’ll have the opportunity to train the vines in almost any direction – down the sides of a window frame, across a bookshelf, or wherever suits your whim and fancy. There’s another benefit to keeping the plants place up high, as you’re less likely to knock them over or have them suffer from curious pet encounters.
When in doubt, keep it simple
Creating a perfect green space is a personal and spiritual-like endeavor. Figuring out the amount of greenery you’re comfortable with is the first step. You don’t want the space to feel over-crowded or out-of-control, which will ultimately make for an uncomfortable and distracting experience. If you’re someone who cares about aesthetics, interior decorating, Feng-shui, experiment with finding the perfect balance between plants and your personal style. By introducing one or two plants to a setting, a space can be dramatically altered – there’s no contest to cram.